ABOUT VIOLINS

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 71, 23 March 1923, Page 8

ABOUT VIOLINS

KICTITIorS FIDDLE VALVES." ! m<>i)::•;x ixsnu mknts i'AVorni:n \ NKW' ZKAI.ANI) MAKKIJ. Of the hundreds of instruments that run tlio gamut of music production, tlio violin enjoys v high distinction mi iess than a respected her it ago- The Hr.liicr, as it was called in other times, dates hack to about 144!t, but it obtained ita present form in the rixteenlh te century. Although a popular instrument in the present age, a great deal of ignorance is still displayed in the knowledge <.f violins generally, lioth in regard u> construction mid in ilia method fit' pruducl.ion of tone. In contrast to years ago, « large numlior of liddles are to-day made by tin' thousands in factories in Germany an.! Franco, and of the-*, cheap and faultily constructed shellac varnished instruments, whieli are sold at all kind* of prices, i. is a rare thins to find one that is really any good. This probably accounts in .-ome. degree for the great ami fictitious vanies placed upon old violins, the estimation of which has hoen exploded recently nmongst critics ~,... modern handwork makers. A cablegram published last month stated '.hat a new English violin priced at £40 won in a tesi against a Stradivarius worth £S<io, musical notabilities pronouncing i:i favour of the new instrument. SKIU.KI) WORK. Tt may not be known to the general pul)li<- "hat there i.s resident in Auckland ,i violin-maker whose reputation Mauds hipJi in the trade, and tthese skilled work in keenly appreciated (ill over Ihe Dominion, an well as abroad- This i< Mr. .lames Hewitt, who.se workshop is at IS, Suunson Street (opp. Ch.imiier v! Comnieree). wliere most of his handicraft in accomplished late at ni'jrht, when he finds lie is better able *.o concent rate and accomplish In* finest work. A native or I'almerston South, .Mr. Hewitt has spent a life-time in the study of the violin, and the big demand for I;is services to-dny is tribute lo Mis knowledge of tlie vinli'.i. He has made fiddles which have broligh* up to £ion.

LOCAL-MAKE SENS ATM >X. .\ production completed three weeks ago lias created quite ;i sen.-alion in i violin circles. It i> made on the Joseph Cuarnnrius principles, with alterations which .Mr. Ih-witt has. as the lvsuk of experience, found to effect impruvement. i I'rominen* critics and players who have, tried this new violin declare it to he a wonder, and Mr. Hewitt is inclined to the ! belief that for tonal quality it i- the! Ijest instrument in thu -.viirld to-day, i Although this model has not been var- ] nished, the tone is a revelation, and he! wiys he is prepared to have it tested j against any other violin old or new. Mr. Hewitt is one who believes that the prices paid for antiquated violins arc altogether preposterous, because equally ofticien* i instruments are made at the present ! time Still, lie concedes at the time the i olil instruments were made they were' much better *han now. because constant adjustment by violin maker?, who did ; not understand the original maker's: aim. has strained or depreciated the instrument. A TKKASrRKD -STKAIV' j One of his treasure.-, is a glorious old ' Stradivarius dating from 1770- For this he would nut take less than £SOO. Mr. i Hewitt imports all his timber for violin- ' ranking. Italian or Swiss pine and maple, in combination, lie finds to give the best results. A violin takes three, or four weeks to make, and the oiling and varIlishing, which are very important con-' siderat us in [lie matter of imparting resonance and vibration, entail anything from three to twelve months. .Mr. Hew it* makes his own oil-amber v-rniah, which is the finest coating po.-silde to apply. ' The lools used in the making of Mr. I Hewitt's violins are surprising, consisting j practically of calipers, by which the j thickness of wood can be exactly measured ; to the thickness of tissue paper, scrapers, i ■gouges, and planes. The largest of the i last mentioned U about an inch and ■ a-half long and three-quarters of an inch | wide. :>nd the smallest quite half that | si/(. They indicate 'he fineness of the : work. Mr. Hewitt is, of course, an expert in violin adjustment, and he has orders; for new violins from nil parts uf the; Dominion. :